Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-04-25
sect the rope :"


disappeared.
Up, up, up she went. The wall
was very hot, but she paid no heed.
She reached the top. On hands and
knees she crawled down the passage.
She came TO the panel. She pressed
the spring, but ii did not move. IL
had not been opened for months.
She was almost suffocated by heat
and smoke; but, summoning all her
strength, she struck the panel and
cried, jasper Jasper Jasper I've
come To save you"
Jasper was standing at the open
window gazing helplessly at the crowd
below. He did not hear the voice Of
the brave girl who had rislsed her
life for him. His eyes were fixed on
the stately form of the woman who
had promised to be his bride.
Tiny, when she found that her
voice could not be heard, made one
more desperate effort to move the
panel. 1t opened few inches, and
she was able to throw in the rope.
''Fasten this rope to the window -
she shouted, "and let yourself down. "
He heard and turned. Was il n
miracle? He saw no one, and, know
ing nothing of the secret panel, did
not look for the opening in the wall,
which was hardly discernible through
the smoke. His one thought was
that of self preservation. lie seiz-
ed the rope, and secured it To the
window.
Below they saw him swing from the
sill, and a cheer carrying the thank
fulness of two score hearts rose to
heaven.
In few seconds he was on the
ground.
"But Tiny? where is she p asked
they all in one voice.
''Tiny he exclaimed, not grasp
ing their meaning. He hardly yet
realized his marvellous and unlocked
for escape. His senses seemed TO
swim. "Tiny, have not seen her %
''She took the rope to you :"
mo, no -
eyes, she went by the secret pass
age"
"Then she is lost"
"No," he shouted, 'sshe shall not
be-"
The greatness of her sacrifice flash
ed upon him. The rope still hung
from the iron bar of the window.
Pushing every one aside, he sprang
to reach il. He was always athletic
and strong, but he needed all his
strength and nerve now. Hand over
hand, up, up he went, while all be-
low watched him in fear-fraught si-
lence. What were his thoughts ON
that upward and perilous climby Ii
was not self that occupied his mind.
A chord in his nature had been struck,
and sounded with no uncertain tone.
He realized for the first time how
this girl loved him. She had offered
her life TO save his, and should he
shrink from such a sacrifcey Love
Impelled him, giving courage 20 his
heart, and strength to his hand. As
he neared the window, he felt what a
mistake his life had been on the brink
of adding a greater error than all 10
the list of those that had gone before.
But he had been saved in time. His
manhood had been awakened. If he
should succeed in rescuing the brave
girl who had done SO much for him,
he would at once publicly face SLAM
der and disgrace if necessary, by pro-
claiming the wrong he had done her,
and asking the forgiveness Of the two
women with whose affections he had
played. He knew now that il was
vanity, not love, which had prompted
him to propose to the imperious Grace.
1t was Tiny, the dear little Tiny Of
old, who possessed hIs hearts love.
She, after throwing the rope, had
tried to return by the way she came,
but she had found the secret passage
barred by dense smoke. Summoning
all her strength, she had forced open
the panel sufficiently 10 squeeze her
little body through, and now stood
in the room from the floor Of which
fingers of flame were already stretch
ing out for prey. Suddenly she heard
her name called. Jasper was at the
window. She rushed 10 his out
stretched arms.
"Hold tight To my neck, my dar-
ling, and / will save you"
The JOY was too sudden to b. real
lied bat they were saved. Hardly
had they reached the ground when a
burst Of fame told that the floor had
fallen.
Grace Wilton had seen the whole
scene. aud knew what IL meant
.'Do you really love him 80 much I
that Won could have died for him =
Grace asked her rival next day.
No verbal answer was needed.
Then. dear. am - sorry / tried /
70 make You unhappy. ] have told 4
him this morning that don't think 4
that We should haye made "a happy 4
pain We were always quauelling. 1
But remember there Is one thing / /
insist upon am - be- bridesmaid. %
And -bp was. luf thp brido ura.